Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House again. Fianna Fáil supports this motion and recognises the critical role played by sport in society. With over 1.7 million Irish adults participating regularly in sport, the State has a central role in supporting sports activity across the country through infrastructure and policy supports. As a result of unprecedented levels of investment by Fianna Fáil-led Governments, Irish people have more opportunities to play and compete in a wider array of sports than ever before. With over €730 million allocated to more than 7,400 projects since 1998, the sports capital programme has significantly improved the quality and quantity of sports facilities in almost every village, town and city in the country. The facilities funded range from the smallest clubs to national sports centres, and Fianna Fáil believes that continued targeted investment in sport is vital to maximise the benefits that arise in the areas of health and well-being, social and cultural development, education, personal development, tourism and the economy.

I echo the comments of Senator Eamonn Coghlan in commending the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, on the work he has done since the reintroduction of the sports capital programme by this Fine Gael-led Government. I cannot think of a better fit for the role of Minister of State with responsibility for sport than Deputy Ring. He has done significant work in the past two years. Because of where he is from - like me, he has lived in the snipe grass for some time - he knows the value of a shilling. The Minister of State understands the importance of sports capital grants to clubs across the country, irrespective of national organisations that also benefit. The big three organisations will always get the largest share - this is only proper, as they have the highest levels of participation - but I hope the Minister of State continues to try to square the circle and give money to the kinds of organisations outlined by Senator Eamonn Coghlan. Katie Taylor provides a fine example, and we are all proud of her achievements; she has put us on the world map in the sport of women's boxing. We should consider where Ms Taylor came from. I listened to a radio vox pop in Bray immediately after her victory in South Korea and many drew attention to where she trained. She now has proper gym facilities, and I commend the Minister of State on ensuring this is the case, but, as Senator Eamonn Coghlan noted, many athletes involved in minority sports are not far from changing clothes behind a shed. There are still problems with facilities and resources, and I know the Minister of State will fight hard, along with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, at the Cabinet table, to secure more money in these areas.

It is extraordinary the impact that sport has. I recently read that sport generates billions of euro across the world; this information may have emanated from the convention referred to by Senator Eamonn Coghlan. Sport permeates every aspect of life, and Ireland is a sports-mad nation. It is extraordinary that an island the size of Ireland, with a population of around 5.5 million people, has a rugby team ranked number three in the world. Ireland also has the GAA, the premier sporting organisation on the entire island, which connects urban and rural areas. The late Kevin Heffernan, Heffo, started the sequence of success for Dublin in the mid-1970s. Prior to that, Dubs, even those living around Croke Park, did not attend GAA matches, as they were regarded as culchie games. Dubs attended soccer matches in Tolka Park and went to see the Hoops, Shamrock Rovers, in Glenmalure Park.

An awful lot of them did not go to GAA matches. Now look at the transformation. Not only do they go-----